A dangerous inmate who walked out of an open prison in Cheshire has been located and arrested by police, ending a two-day manhunt.
Escape and Arrest of a Violent Offender
Kieran Cameron, 43, absconded from HMP Thorn Cross in Warrington on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. He was serving a substantial 23-year sentence for a brutal attempted murder committed in Dorset in 2016. Following his disappearance, Cheshire Police issued a public appeal, urging people not to approach him due to the potential risk he posed.
The search concluded on the evening of Thursday, 8 January, when officers from the Cheshire Police Serious and Organised Crime unit found Cameron in the Hulme area of Greater Manchester. He was promptly taken into custody. In a statement, the force expressed relief at his capture, confirming the arrest and bringing the search to a close.
Details of the Original Crime
Cameron's lengthy prison sentence stems from a premeditated and vicious attack in February 2016. He and an accomplice, Michael O’Rourke, stabbed a 22-year-old man from Poole approximately ten times. The court heard that the pair, who were under threat from a rival gang, intended to kill their victim and frame their rivals for the murder.
The victim sustained life-threatening injuries, suffering stab wounds to his stomach, neck, and the back of his head. Quick intervention by members of the public and medical staff at Poole Hospital is credited with saving his life.
Police Response and Sentencing
At the time of Cameron's original conviction, Detective Sergeant Jamie Halford of Bournemouth CID welcomed the court's sentence. He condemned the "completely unacceptable" violent knife crime and emphasised that such "vicious attacks" would be met with a heavy response from both police and the courts.
DS Halford highlighted the pre-planned nature of the assault, which nearly resulted in the death of a young man, and paid tribute to those who aided the victim. The successful recapture of Cameron after his brief escape ensures he will continue to serve the remainder of his sentence for this grave offence.
